Door construction



Dec. 31, 1968 c. s. DAVIDSON DOOR CONSTRUCTION Sh eet of3 Filed Sept. 19, 1966 A 7' TORNE VS Dec. 31, 1968 c, s, DAVlDSON 3,418,775

DOOR CONSTRUCT ION Filed Sept. 19, 1966 Sheet 3 of 3 F I G. [3

//v l/EN TOR al /4x155- s. oar/050v 5r WWW/W W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,418,775 DOOR CONSTRUCTION Charles S. Davidson, La Salle, Mich, assignor to lfyrne Doors, Inc., Ferndale, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,410 Claims. (Cl. 52-464) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The door construction is made up of a plurality of panel sections each including a vertical series of elongated horizontal preferably channel-shaped members. Vertical stiles connect the adjacent panel sections.

This invention relates generally to industrial doors and refers more particularly to industrial doors composed of individual panel sections.

It is an essential object of this invention to provide an industrial door of relatively lightweight construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an industrial door construction comprising a plurality of individual panel sections arranged edge-to-edge, with elongated stiles between adjacent edges of the panel sections.

Another object is to provide a door construction in which each panel section is composed of a vertical series of elongated, parallel, horizontal extending members secured together in edge-to-edge relation.

Another object is to provide a door construction in which the horizontal members of which the panel sections are composed are generally channel-shaped, the webs of the channels being disposed in a common vertical plane and the side flanges extending inwardly and secured to the flanges of adjacent members.

Another object is to provide a panel section construction composed of the horizontally extending members of channel-shaped form as described above, having stiffening flanges extending vertically from one of the side flanges of each member to provide greater resistance to wind load.

Another object is to provide the adjacent edges of the panel sections with vertical flanges which overlap and are secured to the intervening stiles, and to provide the stiles with flanges which overlap and are secured to the panel sections.

Another object is to provide a door construction in which each panel section includes upper and lower separable portions of convenient size for shipping to the ultimate erection site.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door construction made up of individual panel sections and intervening stiles of a construction such that the panel sections in effect form modules which may be added to as desired to provide a door of almost any length.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view looking at the inner side of a portion of a door constructed according to my invention.

FIGURE 2 is an edge view of a limited number of members making up each panel section, to illustrate the shape of the members.

FIGURE 3 is an edge view of a panel section with the upper and lower channels removed but illustrating the connection between the upper and lower portions of the panel section.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1 and also on the line 88 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view of the upper inside corner of a panel section having the stile connected thereto.

FIGURE 10 is similar to FIGURE 9 but is an outside v1ew.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view of the lower inside corner of a panel section having the stile connected thereto.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 12-12 in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is an inside elevational view showing the door of my invention closing the opening in an aircraft hangar, for example.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 1.

The door of the present invention is shown in inside elevation in FIGURE 13 and a portion of the door is shown in inside elevation in FIGURE 1.

The door is generally designated D and is made up of a plurality of individual panel sections 12 and intervening stiles 14. The panel sections 12 are of a relatively lightweight construction. However, the stiles in addition to connecting adjacent panel sections serve to strengthen the overall construction. Doors of almost any length may be constructed by the mere addition of panel sections. Hence each panel section may be considered a module of construction.

Each panel section 12 includes a vertical series of elongated, parallel, horizontally extending members 16. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the members 16 are preferably of sheet metal construction and are generally channel-shaped. Thus the members 16 have vertical webs 18 and the side flanges 20 and 22 which extend horizontally inwardly from the web 18. The webs 18 of the several channel-shaped members 16 of each panel section lie in a common vertical plane when the door is closed and define the front or outer surface of the door. Each member 16 also has a vertical stiffening flange 24 extending downward from the horizontal flange 22. The stiffening flanges 24 resist the force of wind load from the outside to prevent the panels from bowing inwardy. The stiffening flanges under an outside wind load will be placed in tension. There are times when the wind load will be reversed and the inner side of the door subjected to a differential pressure, and at such times the Webs 18 will be placed in tension to prevent bowing.

The members 16 of each panel section are arranged edge-to-edge so that the flange 20 of one member will lie in full surface-to-surface engagement with the flange 22 of the adjacent member. These engaging flanges are welded together, but obviously other suitable means of connecting them may be employed. The panel sections 12 are preferably made of upper and lower portions which may be shipped separately and then bolted together at the erection site. FIGURE 6 illustrates at 25 a bolted connection between the flanges 20 and 22 at the joint between the upper and lower portions of the panel section.

Each panel section 12 has a channel 28 across the top. The channel 28 is preferably of heavier section than the individual members 16 to provide extra strength. The channel is inverted and the flanges thereof are in surface-tosurface engagement with the web 18 and flange 29 of the uppermost member 16'. It will be noted in FIGURE 8 that this uppermost channel-shaped member 16' is of somewhat dilferent configuration from the other channel-shaped members, having an upper inwardly extending flange 31 of greater extent than flanges of the other members 16, and also having vertically upwardly extending flange 29. This uppermost channel-shaped member has to be tailor made to fit the overall dimensions of the door, although the remaining channel-shaped members may be of the standard uniform construction illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Channel 28 may be secured to the uppermost channel-shaped member 16 of the panel section by any suitable means, as by welding or by bolts.

A channel 30 extends along the bottom of each panel section 12 and is secured to the lowermost channel-shaped member 16 of the section by any suitable means, such as by welding or by bolts. The channel 30, like the channel 28, is of somewhat heavier section than the individual channel-shaped members 16 for added strength. Referring to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the channel 30 has a flange 32 which is secured to the flange 22 of the lowermost channel-shaped member 16 either by welding or by the nut and bolt assembly as shown at 34. One of the flanges of the channel 30 is secured to the stiffening flange 24 of the lowermost member 16 by welding or by bolts.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 14, the stiles 14 comprise the vertical plates and the generally U-shaped or hatsection members 42. The U-shaped members 42 have the out-turned flanges 44 which are welded or secured by any other suitable means to the vertical plates 40.

The stiles are secured by nut and bolt assemblies 43 to the adjacent edges of the panel sections 12. As seen in FIGURE 5, the opposite edges of the plate 40 overlap the ends of the channel-shaped members 16, and are secured by the nut and bolt assemblies 43 to the inner surfaces of stiffening flanges 24.

There is a vertical flange extending along each end of every panel section 12 on the outer side thereof, as viewed in FIGURES 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10. They are secured by any suitable means such as welding to the webs 18 of the horizontal members 16. Flanges 50 of adjacent sections 12 extend toward one another substantially in the plane of the front faces of the panel sections established by webs 18, and overlap the stiles. Preferably, flanges 50 are composed of upper and lower portions 51 and 52 and overlap as shown in FIGURE 6.

As viewed in FIGURE 8, the upper ends of the flanges 51 abut channel 28. At the lower end of the panel sections, the flanges 52 are seen in FIGURE 12 to overlap the outer or front face of the lower channel 30. The flanges 51 and 52 are bolted together where they overlap and are bolted to channel 30 and to the stile by nut and bolt assemblies 53.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the connection of the upper end of a stile to one of the panel sections. Vertical plate 40 of the stile is bolted to the inside or rear face of channel 28, and also to the vertically upwardly extending flange 29 of the uppermost channel-shaped member 16.

In order to facilitate the bolting of the plate 40 of the stile to both of the adjoining ends of adjacent panel sections 12, the tapping bar 62 may be employed. This is of course merely a bar having tapped holes into which the bolts 61 may be threaded, making it unnecessary to hold a nut with the hand in a rather inconvenient and inaccessible place within the channel 28. It will be understood that the adjacent panel section 12 not shown in FIGURE 9 will be secured to the stile in the same manner as the panel section 12 shown. The web of the U-shaped member 42 of stile 14 will be seen to be secured at its upper end to the channel 28 by bolts 67 threading into a tapping bar 66.

FIGURE 11 illustrates the connection of the lower end of the stile to one of the adjacent panel sections, and is shown connected by bolts 63 to the lowermost channel 30. Again, a tapping bar 64 may if desired be employed. The adjacent panel section not shown in FIGURE 11 is secured to the stile in the same manner as the panel section shown.

It will thus be seen that the panel sections are made up of individual members 16 and have a channel 28 across the top and a channel 30 across the bottom. Along the opposite edges of a panel section are the vertical flanges 50. This much of the structure makes up the total panel section. However as already noted, the panel section for convenience of shipping is preferably made of an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion or shipping section is approximately the upper half of the panel section. In other words, it consists of those channel-shaped members 16 above the mid-point and including the upper channel 28 and the side flange portions 51. The lower shipping section would be composed of the remaining channelshaped members 16, the lower channel 30 and the lower side flange portions 52. These upper and lower portions of each panel section are of a convenient size for shipping.

The stiles are full length and are preferably shipped along with, but separate from, the panel sections. If desired, the stiles could be divided into upper and lower separable sections, but this has not been found necessary from the standpoint of shipping convenience. A door composed of the separable panel sections and stiles can be made almost any length by merely adding panel sections and stiles. This is a relatively lightweight, inexpensive door, but the construction enables building the door to almost any size because of the module construction employed. The stiles not only connect adjacent edges of the individual panel sections, but also add to the overall strength of the structure.

FIGURE 13 shows the door in closed position over the opening provided in a building which may be an aircraft hangar, for example. It is quite obvious that if the opening were longer it would be possible to employ a longer door of this construction by just adding additional modules or sections 12 and intervening stiles 14.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A door construction comprising a plurality of individual panel sections arranged edge-to-edge, each panel section being composed of a vertical series of elongated parallel, horizontally extending sheet-metal members of generally channel-shaped cross-section, the webs of said channels being disposed in a common vertical plane and the side flanges extending horizontally inwardly, said side flanges of adjacent members being in surface-to-surface engagement and secured together, a stiffening flange extending vertically downward from the lower side flange of each member, elongated vertical stiles between adjacent edges of said panel sections, the adjacent edges of said panel sections having vertical flanges secured to the webs of said generally channel-shaped members and extending toward one another in overlapping relation to said stiles, said stiles each having a vertical plate overlapping said stiffening flanges, each of said stiles also having a U- shaped member secured to said vertical plate, and means securing said vertical flanges to said U-shaped members of said stiles and said vertical plates to said stiffening flanges.

2. The door construction defined in claim 1, wherein each panel section includes an upper portion comprised of some of said elongated members and a lower portion comprised of the remainder of said elongated members, means releasably securing the lowermost elongated member of said upper portion of each panel section to the uppermost elongated member of said lower portion, a horizontal channel secured to the uppermost elongated member of the upper portion of each panel section and a second horizontal channel secured to the lowermost elongated member of the lower portion of each panel section, said horizontal channels being stronger and more resistant to bending than said elongated members.

3. A door construction comprising a plurality of individual panel sections arranged edge-to-edge, each panel section being composed of a vertical series of elongated, parallel, horizontally extending members of generally channel-shaped cross-section, the webs of said channels being disposed in a common vertical plane and the side flanges extending horizontally inwardly, said side flanges of adjacent members being in surface-to-surface engagement and secured together, a stiifening flange extending vertically from one side flange of each member, an elongated stile between adjacent edges of said panel sections, the adjacent edges of said panel sections having first vertical flanges secured to the webs of said generally channel-shaped members and overlapping said stile, said stile having second vertical flanges overlapping said stiffening flanges, and means securing said first vertical flanges to said stile and said second vertical flanges to said stiffening flanges.

4. A door construction comprising a plurality of individual panel sections arranged edge-to-edge, each panel section being composed of a vertical series of elongated, parallel, horizontally extending members of generally channel-shaped cross-section, the web portions of said channels being disposed in a common vertical plane and the side flanges extending horizontally, said side flanges of adjacent members being in surface-to-surface engagement and secured together, a stiffening flange portion extending vertically from one side flange of each member, an elongated vertical stile between adjacent edges of said panel sections, and means securing said panel sections and stile together including means connecting said stile to both the web and stiffening flange portions of said panel sections.

5. The door construction defined in claim 4, wherein the adjacent edges of said panel sections have first vertical flanges overlapping the other of said portions of said memportions of said generally channel-shaped members and overlapping said stile, said stile having second vertical flanges overlapping the other of said portions of said members, and said securing means includes means connecting said first vertical flanges to said stile and said second vertical flanges to said other of said portions of said members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-578 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,418,775 December 31, 1968 Charles S. Davidson It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 7, "overlapping the other of said portion of said mem" should read secured to one of the web and stiffening flange Signed and sealed this 17th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

